Events for 17 Dec 2017 - Saturday, 23 December 2017

English lessons for people recently arrived in the UK. These sessions are a great opportunity to meet other people.

Would you like to perfect your English and sound like a local?

If so, then these conversation groups are perfect for you! Our sessions are so much fun and you'll be amazed by what you say. In each session, we will practise dialogues using certain expressions and vocabulary until fluency is achieved.

Our Lively Languages technique is fun, sociable and engaging and is also a great way to meet new people.

Volunteer sessions usually take place every Wednesday from 10:00 – 15:30, apart from the second Wednesday of the month where the session will instead be at Mare Hill Common.

Meet at either 9:45 or 10:00 (see listing) at the Frensham Pond visitor centre, Bacon Lane, Churt, GU10 2QB. Sessions led by Darren.

Wednesday 1 November

Clearing Rhododendron from the Axe Pond: The Axe pond on The Flashes has gradually been taken over by this prolific invasive species, and work will focus its gradual removal. (Meet at 09:45).

Wednesday 29 November

Clearing Rhododendron from the Axe Pond: We will continue removing this invasive shrub from around the Axe pond on The Flashes. (Meet at 09:45)

Wednesday 6 December

Clearing Rhododendron from the Axe Pond: A final session of Rhody clearance from the Axe pond on The Flashes. (Meet at 09:45)

Wednesday 20 December

Cut your own Christmas tree: Come and help clear the heathland of invasive pine scrub. Tea and coffee will be provided and you will be free to choose a native Scots pine Christmas tree for your efforts! Limited spaces; booking required via darren.hill@waverley.gov.uk (Meet at 10:00)

Wednesday 3 January

Scrub clearance: In the first volunteer task of 2018, we will be clearing areas of heathland of invasive silver birch and pine scrub. (Meet at 10:00)

Wednesday 17 January

Scrub clearance: Continuing with clearing birch and pine scrub from the heathland. (Meet at 10:00)

Wednesday 24 January

Scrub clearance: Another day of clearing invasive birch and pine scrub from the heathland to preserve its open character. Meet at 10:00

Wednesday 31 January

Scrub clearance: Our final session of clearing invasive birch and pine scrub from the heathland. Our efforts during this month will make this area more suitable for rare ground nesting birds and other specialised heathland wildlife. (Meet at 10:00)

Wednesday 7 February

Pine pulling: One of the big enemies of heathland management, pine saplings have spread across several areas of the Common. We will manually remove these saplings to help halt their colonisation. (Meet at 10:00)

Wednesday 21 February

Pine pulling: A second session of removing invasive pine saplings from the heathland. (Meet at 10:00)

Wednesday 28 February

Gorse management: Gorse is an essential part of the heathland landscape, but without management can become too large and leggy, thus reducing its value for wildlife and presenting a potential fire risk. We will be coppicing areas of gorse to promote a more compact and valuable growth form. (Meet at 10:00)

Wednesday 7 March

Gorse management: A second session of coppicing gorse to promote the more compact bushy growth which is of greatest benefit to heathland wildlife. (Meet at 10:00)

Wednesday 21 March

Preparing a tern raft: Frensham Pond Sailing Club has generously donated a floating jetty to re-purpose as a new and improved raft for nesting terns. We will be fitting baffles to the sides, spreading gravel on the deck and providing shelter for future chicks before the finished raft is put into location ready for the breeding season. (Meet at 10:00)

Wednesday 28 March

Preparing a tern raft - we will continue with making a floating jetty generously donated by the Frensham Pond Sailing Club into a raft for nesting terns. (Meet at 10:00)

Come and visit Santa as he takes times out before Christmas to relax in his charming Victorian parlour.

Your little ones can tell him all their special Christmas wishes and each child will receive a gift to take home. Don't forget the Museum shop will be open too so get Christmas all wrapped up and find gifts for all your friends and family – why not treat them to a Museum gift membership, the perfect present that lasts all year!